Geek This

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 8:29 am

is there a electric meter i can own?? i want to meter the guest cottage and boat house.. they trunk off after the main in the house..there own main and fuse box are mounted in the boat house..

Toolmaker · Post by **Toolmaker** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 3:54 pm

Yes. Not sure if they carry it at HomeDespot type places. There is also something portable that can be plugged into an outlet that will measure the useage of whatever is plugged into that outlet. I think its called "watts up" and another make of the same thing goes by the name "kill a watt".

phil · Post by **phil** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 5:00 pm

Are these what you mean?

http://www.metersusa.com/Watt-Hour-Mete ... gQodlVKAFA

http://www.byramlabs.com/kwh-meters.php ... agodiAvzLQ

http://www.spinwavesystems.com/applicat ... gQodVEzRGA

Check eBay, too:

http://search.ebay.com/KILOWATTHOUR-WAT ... kwhQ20watt

Kinetik V · Post by **Kinetik V** » Tue Dec 18, 2007 5:08 pm

In reference to Toolmaker's post:

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/ ... _200343851

This tool is a real eye opener when tracking down phantom loads and figuring out how hungry those wall warts really are.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 8:56 am

Toolmaker wrote:Yes. Not sure if they carry it at HomeDespot type places. There is also something portable that can be plugged into an outlet that will measure the useage of whatever is plugged into that outlet. I think its called "watts up" and another make of the same thing goes by the name "kill a watt".

tanks for the tip Tool, I found one for $25.. what I was looking for tho, was a thing called submeter.. They cost $500..

I looked at the back of my cheap vidio dic player.. it takes 11w to play AND 5w at rest..vcr's are juice eaters too..Along with instance on TV's.. as much as 100w for some large TV.. A remote 120v switch on a power strip takes care of that crap.. Those little transformers for phones and other toys pluged in around the house can bill you over time.. you put in 120v and get 12v dc out.. the rest gos up in resistance heat.. check it out, see how nice and warm they are.. that's your money warming your hand.. put a compact spot bulb in the yard light and turn down the time.. throw the damn thing away if it don't have a day time shut off.. our two large dogs have it on all night.. they get up at every sound.. deer and other animals turn the lights in the front yard on.. going to put an alarm on the front.. big crane comes in to check how the coy are doing... Then i will get a KIll-a- watt and find the rest of the power leaks.. This may sound penny wise but over time........

Dork · Post by **Dork** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 9:38 am

They make "master switches" now so you can put one switch at your front door to turn off all those little vampires while you're away. Of course, they're radio controlled so the switches themselves probably draw at least a little power.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 10:08 am

Dork wrote:They make "master switches" now so you can put one switch at your front door to turn off all those little vampires while you're away. Of course, they're radio controlled so the switches themselves probably draw at least a little power.

just piced up two remote switches. i'm able to train them to one key ring botton switch.. I'll gang my little stuff on two power strips..

the phone and ansewer have to be left on for now..
maybe some one can geek me on that
need the land line for computer and over seas (in coming) calls..

DVD Burner · Post by **DVD Burner** » Thu Dec 20, 2007 12:52 pm

YOU'RE STILL ON DIAL UP?

if you were on at least DSL you could just get some cams and hook them to the computer and watch the remotely.

Valkyrie · Post by **Valkyrie** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 2:02 am

uh... dsl runs over phone lines. You need one if you're going to get it.